Car wash next to derelict pub ordered to close

A car wash has been ordered to close after it was found to be operating on a car park of a former pub without authorisation.

The Butts Hand Car Wash was operating on a car park of the former Butts Retreat pub, later known as The Hamptons, in Spon End, Coventry.

The city council's planning department said the unauthorised car wash caused "undesirable levels of noise" and jet sprays could lead to "the uncontrolled release of contaminated water" into the nearby River Sherbourne.

It has told operators to "permanently cease" using the land, and to remove all infrastructure and waste.

The Hamptons pub closed in 2018 and was hit by arson in 2024. Since then, the site has been boarded up while the car park has started to become overgrown with weeds.

A city council enforcement notice says there has been a change of use without planning permission on a prominent corner of land next to the pub, between the Butts main road and the adjoining side-road Windsor Street.

A car wash, as well as an associated building, container, water storage tanks, and a hot food trailer is set up at the site.

The enforcement notice takes effect on 7 September, unless an appeal is lodged against it before that date, and there is a three-month window in which to comply.

At the end of May, the council refused an application for a car wash on the site.

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